July 2024
Trying New Things
July is the month when many people go on vacation, spend time outside, enjoy the warmth of the season and embrace a carefree spirit. July is the perfect month to try something new! Trying new things can have many psychological benefits. Being curious about yourself and what you might like to do is a great way to be in touch with who you are as a person. Gathering the courage to face a fear of the unknown and take a leap of faith can be wonderful for your self-esteem and sense of personal agency. When you challenge yourself to try something that you are not already good at, you grow as a person and learn about your strengths. Trying new things is a great way to break out of a boring routine and feel less stuck and more motivated in other areas of your life.
Of course, the most important benefit of trying new things is having fun! Experiencing the enjoyment of life, discovering something new, learning a skill, and doing something just for you is an accomplishment in it’s own right. The feeling of personal growth is unmatched. There are so many ways both big and small to try something new. You could plan a trip to somewhere you haven’t been, get a fun haircut, take an exercise class that you haven’t tried, cook a new food, explore that new hobby that you’ve been thinking about. Every day you can challenge yourself to do one new thing and you may find new joys just around the corner.
Chris Love CADC
Addictions Councilor
Provider Spotlight: Chris Love, CADC
What do all those letters after your name mean?
CADC is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. These credentials allow me to practice substance use counseling and co-occurring mental health.
What brought you to Health Quest?
Joining HQ was a no brainer, I shared many common therapeutic modalities with the team and combining forces just made sense! The team at HQ all have a wealth of knowledge in multiple fields and I have always wanted to work in an environment that challenges me and encourages me to grow. After touring the space at HQ I was really sold, I could see my clients and future clients finding a home here as well.
Read the full interview on our blog!
Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month which also commemorates National Disability Independence Day on July 26th. This day marks the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, which was an historic civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination and ensures the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. It took years of hard work and advocacy to finally bring this act into being, and remarkably it all started with a group of teenagers at a summer camp called Camp Jened. Camp Jened was a place where young people with disabilities could come together and imagine a better world, the inspiring story of Camp Jened was featured in a documentary called Crip Camp. One of the most visible actions that was taken by a group of activists was the “Capitol Crawl” in March of 1990 where people put down their mobility devices and crawled up the steps of the Capitol building to demonstrate the difficulty and courage that it takes to access even the most fundamental government offices that are available to everyone else. The youngest person to participate was 8 year old Jennifer Keelan who became an icon of the moment.
Now that we have lived with the ADA for decades, it is often difficult to know what life was like before the ADA. Before the ADA, people who use wheelchairs were not able to access many buildings, were not able to find a bathroom in public, were not able to ride on public transportation, and were often harassed for even trying. People with disabilities were routinely excluded and discriminated against in terms of employment, housing, and schools, which are all essential parts of living in our society today. Remarkably, the improvements to our infrastructure and communications systems that were meant to benefit people with disabilities have benefited everyone else as well. For example, curb cuts in sidewalks meant to help wheelchair users access the sidewalks and streets safely are very helpful for people pushing a baby stroller, using a cane to walk, or pushing a cart. Another example is closed captioning, which many people use when watching movies, not just those who are deaf.
This inspiring part of our nation’s history shows the importance of community, advocacy, and hard work and dedication. Particularly, it highlights the ability of young people to make big changes for the greater good. Living in a post-ADA world means that we have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Disability Pride Month!
BIPOC Mental Health Month
July is Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month which aims to highlight the unique mental health challenges faced by people from minoritized and historically disenfranchised communities.
Racial oppression leads to unique traumas faced by individuals and communities. It is also harder for BIPOC to receive adequate mental health treatment. This is why it is so important to recognize and support the efforts of communities working on healing. You can find some wonderful resources for people from African Disapora, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Native and Indigenous communities here. This is a great time to think more about educating yourself on these issues and working towards creating a better world for everyone. Some additional resources are below.
https://www.mhanational.org/bipoc/mental-health-month
https://www.dbsalliance.org/wellness/bipoc-mental-health-awareness-month/
https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/minority-mental-health/index.html
Groups
Dr. Jonathan Anslow’s Men’s Groups
Dr. Anslow is leading 2 men’s groups
One group is focused on helping young men (age 18-29) on the transition to adulthood and providing support through the early stages of ‘adulting.’
The second group is for 30+ year-old men to process and support one another.
For more information or to register email Dr. Anslow at JAnslow@HQPsych.com
To join a session of our Gender Junction meeting, or for more information email Dr. Wolfe at GWolfe@HQPsych.com
Dr. Ryan Kelly will be running the Kids Thrive Therapy Group. For more information email Dr. Kelly at RKelly@HQPsych.com
Events!
This summer we will be taking advantage of our expansive green space to host a number of events! We will be doing geocashing, walks, and other events for you to enjoy! Stay tuned to our events page for more information!
